Art reflects life in different forms, be it painting, music, poetry and even movies. Of all the art forms available, none has a greater reach than movies. For many years, movie producers have used human emotions to captivate and educate people. India‘s Bollywood film industry has done well in this regard, releasing movie scripts that show India’s rich culture. Everyone, especially foreigners and foreigners, can tell the beauty of Indian culture. Without setting foot in India, it can be said that the important elements of the country’s culture are dance, music, mathematics, language, cuisine and, interestingly, gambling. So, to show you the beauty of Indian culture, we’ve picked out six of the best movies you need to see, starting with the oldest ones.
Pather Panchali (1955)
Pather Panchali literally translates to song of the small road, and the film is about culture and life in rural India. This vintage film is one of the best films of all time. Director Satyajit Ray sits in the Indian Film Industry Hall of Fame as one of the top film directors in India. Working on a low budget, the film Pather Panchali was his debut. Even with the obvious constraints, he was able to portray the pastoral life of Bengal alongside his needy family members. With this true showcase of India’s rural beauty, it was no surprise that Ray captured the hearts of many in India and beyond even with his big screen.
The Big Player (1979)
Everyone will agree that gambling is one of the elements of Indian culture. It started years ago, and now it has evolved to a stage where people have direct access to best casinos in Andar Bahar on the Internet. The Big Gamer, our next film, was produced at a time when online gaming was almost non-existent. The film was the first action thriller to feature gambling as its central theme. It had one of the most massive movie budgets of that period as it featured scenes from Venice, Rome, Lisbon, etc. The plot was about an expert player who had never lost a game. To make sure he was not fraudulent, a police inspector was assigned to investigate the player.
Gandhi (1982)
The research on the culture of India would never be complete if there were not a few names. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is one such name. During his lifetime, the Indian lawyer fought for the liberation of his people from British colonial rule. This film directed by David Attenborough was to show the life and times of Mahatma Gandhi and his non-violent struggle for independence. The epic biography movie was so good it won a Oscar nomination in 1982 and several awards thereafter. It shows how nonviolent agitation can win a war against impunity and cruelty.
Passage to India (1984)
Nothing shows culture better than a historical documentary film. The next film on our list is a classic that is inspired by another classic written by EM Forster. In this film, you will see the true relationship between the Indian people and their British colonizers. The film, set before India’s independence, examines the suffering of the people and how independence came about. Passage to India explores India through the lens of Ms. Moore, a fictional character in the film, and what she believes to be the real India.
Lagan (2001)
Indians love the game of cricket. The love runs so deep that cricket has become part of their culture, like football in England and American football in the United States. This beautiful film correctly depicts the love of Indians for this beautiful game of cricket and the beauty of Indian rural life before independence. In English, Lagaan translates to Tax which is the central theme of the film. The film tells a story of how some villagers in certain parts of India had to play cricket just to avoid paying unfair taxes to the British government. In the end, people were able to win using passion and love for the beautiful game of cricket.
Rank of Basanti (2006)
If you’re tired of seeing old Indian films and the cruelty of British colonizers, head to 2006 as we explore some of the problems of modern India. In this thrilling film, a British Indian returns home to make a documentary about a group of freedom fighters called Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad, and many others. Even though her grandfather was a policeman, she quickly becomes part of the crisis. The film helps you see the new country of India in light of growing corruption and its impact on the system.
